Featured in this lot is this beautiful artist proof, giclee print titled, "Black Elk" originally painted by renowned artist David Humphreys Miller (1918 - 1992) circa 1950-60s. Miller was born in Van Wert, Ohio, to an artistic family. He spent most of his childhood sketching and painting to hone his artistic abilities. He initially visited the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota at the age of 16, accompanied by a translator, and began interviewing the remaining Battle of Little Bighorn survivors, the majority of whom were over 70 years old. Most of them had never told their stories to a white man. Because Indian warriors made up the vast majority of the fight survivors, these many interviews were critical to later historical research on Custer's defeat. He went on to study art at the University of Michigan, New York University, and the Grand Central School of Art with Harvey Dunn. He also collaborated privately with Winold Reiss, continuing his work on the Bighorn survivors with his family's permission over the summer. In 1942, he joined the 14th Air Corps in China during World War II. Miller expanded his knowledge of the Plains peoples by learning 14 Indian languages, including sign language, and being adopted by 16 different Indian households. Black Elk eventually named him Chief Iron White Man after the Oglala Sioux medicine man who had been at Little Bighorn. He eventually worked as a technical advisor on 25 "Western" films. Miller, a close friend of Korezak Ziolkowski, planned the final meeting of the surviving eight Bighorn survivors on June 3, 1948, at the dedication of the Crazy Horse Memorial. In 1971, he authored a lengthy piece for American Heritage magazine about Custer survivors' recollections. Miller and his wife, Jan, spent their latter years in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where he painted and wrote until he died in 1992. Black Elk was, cousin of famous war chief Crazy Horse, and veteran not only of Battle of Little Big Horn, but also the Wounded Knee Massacre, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Nicholas Black Elk also revived the traditional Oglala Sun Dance. Nicholas, and his son Benjamin were crucial proponents in the education of the Lakota Sioux tradition, keeping it alive not only on the reservation, but spreading the culture to all peoples. This artist proof giclee print shows Black Elk posing for a portrait as he wears a large war bonnet and bear claw necklace. He is looking to the left of the viewer with a stoic look on his face. The piece is signed twice by the artist, once from the print in black lettering and once in pencil by hand reading, "David Humphreys Miller". It is also numbered reading, "AP/300" showing that it is a limited edition artist proof print. The piece is set in a wood frame showing white and grey colors throughout and carved designs. The artwork and frame show good condition overall with little to no wear present on the artwork and no signs of major damage noted. The visible art measures 23 5/8" L x 17 1/2" W, while the entire piece measures 32 5/8" L x 26 1/2" W x 2 3/4" D. It has a total weight of 6 pounds and 12 ounces.
